Bus-bar-connecting device.



F. B. ADAM. BUS BAR CONNECTING DEVICE.

APPLIOATIQN FILED JULY 3, 1911.

Patented June 25, 1912.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE, F RE DRICK B. AD AM, OF LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO FR ANK ADAM ELECilRIC I COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURL Ap. CORPORATION OF YORK.

full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. i

This invent-ion relates to bus bar connect- .ing devices such as are used for establishing electrical connection between superimposed bus bars arranged at right angles to each other. I

One object of my invention is to provide' a bus barconnecting device of novel construe tion that can be adjusted or shifted easily so as to establish electrical connection between ditferent bus bars and which is so designed that it is not liable to become displaced or.

shifted accidentally.

Another object is to provide-a bus bar connecting device of simple construction which can be securely clamped to oneof the bus bars with which it IS used.

Other objects and desirable features'of my invention will be hereinafter pointed out. I

Figure 1 of the drawings isla perspective view' of my improved bus bar connecting device arranged. 'in operatlve position; Fig

, 2 is an elevational view showing the clamping member in section; and Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 33 of w lteferring to the drawings which illustrate the preferredforin of my invention, A designates a bus bar which extends transversely over a set of bus bars l3 arranged at 40 approximately right angles to the bus bar A. My invention consists in a device that is used for establishing electrical connection between the bus bar A and either of the bus bars B, and while 1 have herein shown a device that is designed for use with relatively thin bus bars which are arranged edgewise,

I do not wish it to be understood that my invention is limited to a device of the exact construction herein shown for the particular cross sectional shape of the bus bars is so far as my broad idea is con- Brifiy described, my device consists preferably of a bar or rod of metal C having BUS-BAR-CON'NECTING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

thereby forming a spring clip or Patented June 25, 1912.

Application filed July 3, 1911. Serial No. 636,650.

slots 01" openings-arranged at approximately right angles to each other for receiving the bus bar A and the bus bar B which cooperin operative position and also establish a good electrical contact between it and the bus bar A on which it is mounted. The

opening I in the rod C which receives the bus'bar B preferably consists of an openended slot, and the opening 2 in said bar C, through which the bus bar A passes, also consistsof an open-ended slot arranged at approximately right angles to the slot 1, I

air of wings?) at the lower end of the rod which snugly. embrace the bus bar B, and also a pair of wings 1 at the upper end of the rod G which embrace the bus bar A. v

The means which I prefer to use for pressing portions of the device C tightlyagainst the bus bar A, consistsof a clamping nut i) adjustably mounted on a reduced screwthreaded portion 5 on the upper end of the rod C and provided on its under side with abushing having a recess or socket 6 that receives a tapered or conical-shaped portion 7 on the rod C, as shown clearly in Figs; 2 and The lower edge 8 of the socket or recess in the clamping member I) is preferably beveled slightly and cooperates with the tapered portion 7 of the rod C to force the two wings ft or side portions of said rod tightly against the bus bar A when the clamping member D is screwed downwardly. The

clamping member is formed from suitable insulating material so as to permit the device to beadjusted safely. When the clamping nut .l) is rotated in theopposite direction or moved upwardly on the rod C the shoulder 8 on said member will travel upwardly over the tapered part 7 of the-rod C and thus permit the portions 4: of said rod to Spring away slightly from the bus bar A. The slot '2 in the rod C is made long enough to enable said rod to be moved upwardly far enough to carry the wings 3 on the lower end of same out of engagement with the bus bar B and thus permit the device to be shift ed longitudinally of the bus bar A and thereafter moved downwardly into engagement with a different bus bar B, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 1. After the device has been shifted or arran ed in operative relation with a different bus bar the clamp mg member D is Screwed downwardly so as to cause the portions 4. of the rod (1 to be pressed tightly against the bus bar A and thus securely clamp the device in its adjusted position.

A device of the construction above-described can be'manufactured cheaply because it comprises only two parts namely, a single rod or bar of metal provided with two bifurcated portions which straddle the bus bars, and a clamping member which draws the. wings or legs of one .of said bifurcated portions together or forces them tightly against the bus bar on which the device is mounted. The device can be adjust ed quickly and easily and securely clamped in position, and as the clamping member D closes the upper end of the slot 2 through .which the bus bar'A passes, said clamping member prevents the device from being'disconnected from the bus bar A. by a thoughtless or absent-minded person and placed in an improper position on a different parallel bus bar. That is to say, by providing the device with means which prevents it from being pulled ofi of the bus bar A easily a careless person will not be apt to make a wrong connection as mightoccur if the device could be removed easily from the bus bar A.

In installing the device the clamping member D is, of course, not mounted on the rod 0 until after said rod has been slipped onto the bus bar A, and after said clamping member has been arranged in operative position it is not intended to be bodily removed from the rod C unless it is desired to replace the device, the adjustments or changes in the position of the device being eifected merely by loosening the clamping member D and then lifting the rod C slightly and moving it laterally into alinement with the bus bar B which it is desired to connect to the bus' bar A.

"Having thus described my invention,

said bifurcated portion having tapered or conical surface on the exterior thereof, and

an adjustable member cooperating with said conical surface for causing the side wings of said bifurcated portion to be pressed tightly against the bus bar with which the device is used.

2. A bus'bar connecting device consisting of a rod provided with a bifurcated portion which is adapted to receive a bus bar,

a clamping member adjustably mounted on said bifurcated portion, and a shoulder on said clamping member which coiipera-tes with an inclined surface on said bifurcated portion to force the side wings thereof toward each other, when said clamping member is moved in one direction.

3. A bus bar connecting device consisting of a rod provided with bifurcated portions which are adapted to receive bus bars ar ranged at approximately right angles to each other, one of said bifurcated portions being so proportioned that the device can be moved into such a position that the other bifurcated portion thereon will pass out of engagement with the bus bar with which it cooperates, a clamping member of insulating material'adjustably mounted on one end of said rod so as to close the end of the bifurcated portion which permits the adjust- FRE-DRICK. AD AM.

Witnesses WELLS L. CHURCH, GEORGE BAKEWELL. 

